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Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812

Mothers and Daughters

and Others Gather The 2014 Mother and Daughter

Banquet was held Sunday, May 18.

The fellowship hall was filled with

ladies of all ages who came to

enjoy a wonderful meal prepared by

the men of the church.

Beautiful potted plants were

given as door prizes. Entertainment

was provided by our own St.

Nicholas Choir, under the direction of Jennifer Baker-Trinity and accompanied by Renee Beaver.

Members of Beaver Lutheran’s Women of the ELCA (WELCA) would like to thank all those who came, the choir for

their wonderful performance, and the men for preparing a great meal!

See Page 2 for more photographs of the evening.

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Beginning June 15th and continuing through August 31st our Sunday Morning Worship Schedule is …

Holy Communion … 9:15 a.m.

Sunday School for the Young Adult and Livewire Classes … 10:45 a.m.

Beaver Lutheran Church

CCOOMMMMEENNTTAARRYY Vol. 28, No. 6 The Season after Pentecost May 2014

Adult Sunday School – 10:45 a.m. www.beaverlutheranchurch.org Holy Communion – 9:15 a.m.

The Bickhart Ladies (Deanna, Greta Wagner and Leslie

Feehrer) enjoyed a nice meal prepared by the men of the

church.

http://www.beaverlutheranchurch.org/


Red for Pentecost The Worship and Music Committee is requesting the donation of red geraniums

which will decorate the church on Pentecost Sunday, June 8. Please have your

geraniums to the church no later than Saturday, June 7. If possible, the pots should be

wrapped with red foil.

Also, let’s all wear red on Pentecost Sunday!

Livewires Class to Meet with Pastor Nathan Whether you are a younger adult yourself or enjoy being with young adults, the

Livewires’ Sunday School class is your opportunity to learn and grow with others.

This summer, Pastor Nathan will lead the Livewires’ class following worship on Sunday

mornings. The topic of the class is “Worship Matters: An Introduction to Worship.” Copies

of the book are available in the narthex, along with a sign-up sheet to order extra, if needed.

Plan to read the first chapter before June 15!

Learn More about

Evangelical Hospice For many years our own member, Lois Mattern, has volunteered for Evangelical

Hospice. You are invited to attend an Adult Forum June 8 in the lounge at 9 a.m. where

Lois will share about this life-giving ministry.

Preparing for Baptism Baptism is the wellspring from which the entire Christian life flows. Jesus’ words to the

woman at the well in John 4:14, promises “a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” This

spring gushes up from the font, where, as Romans 6:3-4 assures us, we are liberated from sin

and death by being joined to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Individuals desiring baptism for themselves or their children are asked to meet with the

pastor six times for spiritual conversation and support. If you desire baptism, please speak to

Pastor Nathan. The next opportunity to receive baptism is All Saints Sunday, November 2.


In Need of

Communion Wine The Sacristy is in need of communion wine. If you are able, please pick up some

Taylor Port Blue Label wine and bring it to the church during regular office hours:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 to noon.

Helpers are Needed

for Altar Guild Volunteers are needed to help out with the altar guild. It is not hard and only

requires about an hour or so each week for one month a year.

If you are interested in this important part of our worship, please see Bryon

Beaver or Pastor Nathan.

Still Room to Sign Up for Altar Flowers! The 2014 Altar Flower Chart still has a few open dates. If you wish to place flowers in the

church, please sign up today!

The next available date is July 20, and that is coming very soon! Other dates are: July 27; Aug.

31; Oct. 26; Nov. 9; and, Dec. 7 and 28.

Information to be included in the bulletin must be submitted to the secretary no later than the

Thursday before your flowers are to be in the church. Cost for 2014 is $35. Please make sure you

include your name on the altar flower envelope, located in the narthex, so your payment may

be credited to the correct account. You may also wish to pay Country Flowers directly.

Help is Needed for the Relay for Life Breakfast The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is scheduled for June 20 and 21. The event

is held each year at the Beaver Fair Grounds in Beaver Springs.

Our “Busy Beavers” team will once again hold a breakfast on the morning of Saturday,

June 21. Much help is needed to make this happen. Preparation begins long before the actual

date, however many hands are needed to help prepare the meal on Friday, June 20 anytime

after 1:00 p.m. The day of the meal will begin at 4:30 a.m. You may also do your part by

helping transport items to and from the fairgrounds.

Please contact Isabel Zerby at 570-658-7551 if you are available to help those two days.

You may also contact Isabel if you are in need of registration forms or survivors sheets.


Con-GRAD-ulations! Class of 2014!! We will be honoring our two confirmed and communing graduates on Sunday, June 8

during the worship service.

Other graduates in attendance will also be acknowledged.

●Adrianne Gesselman, daughter of Todd and Nicole

Gesselman of Beaver Springs, and granddaughter of Tom

and Teresa Hoffman, will graduate from Midd-West High

School on June 6. While at Midd-West, Adrianne

participated in field hockey and softball. She was also a

member of the National Honor Society. Following

graduation, Adrianne plans on attending the Pennsylvania

School of Sciences in Lancaster where she will study to

become a Registered Nurse.

ERICA WAGNER recently finished her Master’s Degree in Instructional Design and Technology from Saint Joseph’s University.

Congratulations Erica!

●Morgan Goodling, daughter of Annette Peters of McClure and Russ

Goodling of Middleburg, will be graduating from Midd-West High School June

6 as class valedictorian. In August she will begin her studies at the University

of the Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Her goal is to obtain a

doctorate in pharmacy

.

More of our Graduates appear on Page 6.


●Brody Hetrick, son of Greg Jr. and Jess Hetrick of Beaver Springs, will be graduating

from Midd-West High School. He is the grandson of Greg and Renee Hetrick and the great-

grandson of Betty Hetrick, and the late Lewis Hetrick. Brody will be studying

Forestry/Wildlife at the Mont Alto campus of the Pennsylvania State University.

●Amanda Snook, granddaughter of Joan Snook, will be graduating from Alco High

School in Myerstown, Pa. Amanda is planning on continuing her education at the Berks

County Campus of the Pennsylvania State University. She is the daughter of Todd and

Darlene Snook.

●Adam Zerby, son of Chuck and Melissa Zerby of Beaver Springs will

be graduating from Midd-West High School. Following graduation he will

be attending the Pennsylvania College of Technology, where he will study

Electrical Technology. He is the grandson of Isabel Zerby and the late Nevin

Zerby.

●Callie Zerby, daughter of Vernon and Penny Zerby of Shamokin, graduated from

Wilkes University on Saturday, May 17, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry. She has

been accepted to Wilkes University to pursue her Master’s in Business. She is the

granddaughter of Isabel Zerby and the late Nevin Zerby.

●Indigo Skye Zerby, daughter of Vernon and Penny Zerby of Shamokin, graduated from

Line Mountain High School and Northumberland County Career and Technical Center where

she studied cosmetology and will take her boards this summer. Indigo will attend Lycoming

College in the fall to major in Business and Psychology. She is the granddaughter of Isabel

Zerby and the late Nevin Zerby.


Pastor Cromer celebrates his 50th anniversary! The Rev. Douglas Cromer, former pastor of Beaver Lutheran Church, will soon be celebrating

the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Pastor Cromer and his wife, Janice, will be honored on

Sunday, June 22 at the 10:30 a.m. liturgy at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in York where he is a

member. St. Paul’s also happens to be the church where Pastor Stan Reep is now pastoring.

A reception will be held in Pastor Cromer’s honor following the worship service. At that time

former members and friends are invited to offer words of congratulations to him. For those unable to

attend, please feel free to send notes and cards to Pastor Cromer, c/o St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 25

West Springettsbury Ave., York, PA 17403.

Road Litter Clean-Up Between 10 and 12 volunteers are needed to help fulfill our obligation to PennDOT

to keep our two-mile stretch of highway clean. Your help is needed Saturday, June 7 at

10 a.m.

The youth of the church are encouraged to help. However, those younger than 16

need a permission slip. Please contact Erman Lepley at 658-7605 if you have questions

or need a permission slip.

Baby Bottle Boomerang Ends

On Mother’s Day, many of you took home an empty baby bottle. Your job was to fill

the bottle with your loose change. The bottles are to be returned on Father’s Day, June 15.

Money raised during the Baby Bottle Boomerang Campaign goes to Crossroads

Pregnancy Center in Lewistown and its life changing work of meeting the physical and

spiritual needs of men and women who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy.

For more information on Crossroads Pregnancy Center, please go to crossroadspcs.org.

Red Cross Blood Drive in McClure A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 9 at the McClure Volunteer

Fire Company located at 49 West Specht Street in McClure.

In order to give blood, you must not have given blood in the past 56 days. You must be healthy, be

at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Please consider donating. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

http://crossroadspcs.org/wordpress/


Gospel and Contemporary Christian Concert at Messiah

A concert by Jim Hendricks will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at

Messiah Lutheran Church in Troxelville.

Mr. Hendricks has performed in churches all over the country,

including the Crystal Cathedral, and has been a featured symphonic

orchestra soloist of Rachmaninoff’s piano music. He has performed with

such greats as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Della Reese,

Jack Jones, Clark Terry, Louie Bellson and many others.

A reception will follow the concert. A love offering will be taken.

Church Council Highlights from May Church Council met on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of the meeting include:

●Received notice of the bequest of all property of the Charles W. Benfer, Jr. to Beaver

Lutheran Church. In accordance with the will, President Joe Feehrer and Secretary Nicole

Gesselman were appointed executors. Attorney Thomas C. Clark has been retained as legal

counsel.

●Appointed Nikki and Ashley Gesselman as Voting Members to the 2014 Synod

Assembly.

●The Treasurer’s Report indicated the following balances as of April 30: Current Fund

(general operating expenses) had a positive balance of $4,534.76. Capital Equipment &

Repair Fund had a positive balance of $18,569.85. Nerine Benfer Estate Fund (for general operating expenses) had a

positive balance of $26,064.96.

●Regular meeting times are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30. Next regular meeting is Tuesday, June 10 at

6:30 p.m.

Full minutes of the meeting will be approved at the June council meeting and posted outside the church office.

Bishop’s Letter on Same Gender Marriage

Bishop Robert Driesen recently wrote a pastoral letter regarding changes to the

Pennsylvania marriage law and how it relates to our congregation’s ministry. As has been the

case since 2009, the Bishop writes that “the decision how to recognize, support, and hold

publicly accountable same-gender relationships is entrusted to congregations and should be

addressed prayerfully in the context of the congregation’s ministry.”

The full contact of the letter is available on the information table in the lobby.


In Loving Memory JOHN N. HASSINGER

December 27, 1933 – May 19, 2014

T. LEWIS HETRICK September 10, 1929 –

May 22, 2014

Let us remember in our Prayers … Please remember the family and friends of Nettie L. Brannan. Nettie passed away December 15,

2013 and was interred at Adamsburg Cemetery in Beaver Springs on Thursday, May 22 with Pator

Nathan officiating. She was a sister of the late June Bojalad.

June Birthdays and Anniversaries Those celebrating birthdays this month include:

●Galen Goss and Brandon Phelps, June 2.

●Crystal Wray, June 3.

●Anthony Bishop, June 5.

●George Etzler and Vaughn Phelps, June 8.

●Kaitlyn Shrawder, June 10.

●Renee Beaver, Elizabeth Schuck and

Matthew Zerby, June 11.

●Angela Hockenbrock, June 12.

●Isabel Zerby, June 13.

●Helen Ewing (age 95) and Michaela Wagner, June 14.

●Annette Peters, June 18.

●Nathan Baker-Trinity, June 19.

●Mary June Gilbert, June 22 (85 years young!)

●Scott Haines and Payne Wagner, June 23.

●Adrianne Gesselman, June 24.

●Nicole Gesselman, June 25.

●Jesse Hoover, June 26.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the

families and friends of John and Lewis.

We are confident in the teaching of

Christ which brings solace and comfort,

that the lives of John and Lewis have not

ended, but changed.

We will miss them as members of this

Family of God at Beaver Lutheran

Church.

Those celebrating anniversaries this month include:

●Albert Jr. & Deanna Bickhart, 51 years; and

Erman & Evelyn Lepley, 58 years on June 2.

●Nathan & Susan Fultz, June 6.

●Scott & Sara Mattern, June 11.

●Wayne & Amber McCardle, 59 years on June 16.

●Jason & Erica Wagner, June 17.

●Douglas & Jill Kline, June 21.

●Howard Jr. & Sharon Benner, June 25.

●Edward & Carole Bendick, June 29.

If you would like to send

Helen Ewing a birthday card for her

95th birthday, her address is:

Brookline Manor, Room 209

2 Manor Blvd.

Mifflintown, PA 17059


Funerals: A Time to Sing

In Ecclesiastes, we hear these words: “For everything there is a season … A time to be

born and a time to die … a time to weep and a time to laugh … a time to keep silence and a

time to speak.”

This church community has had more than their fair share of mourning in these past

weeks and months. One thing that has struck me about this passage from Ecclesiastes is that

there is no “a time to sing and a time not to sing.” Yes, we keep silence and it is good to do

this. Sometimes I think we need more of it in our harried, busy lives. But one thing that is

constant, in birth and in death, in mourning and dancing, is singing.

We sing in our joy and we sing in our grief. In both times, singing brings healing to the

soul. I’ve been reminded of this as I have heard the people of Beaver sing at funerals. It is

good and right that we do so.

Pastor Thomas Long has said: “Accompany them with singing! It is good for the voices of the community singing

praise to be heard above the noisy clamor of death.” Music – especially singing by the whole assembly – binds the

community together and brings comfort in the midst of grief.

Choices about what to sing can be difficult, however. We might want to honor the deceased by singing a favorite

song. This can be a holy way to recognize their presence with us, but we also remember that when we sing at a funeral,

music proclaims the promise of God to those of us still on life’s journey. Singing at a funeral is for the comfort of those

who are yet living, announcing in no uncertain terms the abiding presence of God in Christ Jesus. For a list of hymns and

songs for funerals, see the Funeral heading in the indexes of Evangelical Lutheran Worship (p. 1182). Other headings that

would be appropriate include Heaven, Hope, Assurance, Lament, Easter and Holy Baptism.

In joy and through tears, in birth and in death, we sing, trusting God’s spirit sings through us.

Christ’s Peace,

Jennifer


We have had some significant losses lately here at Beaver Lutheran. Four

life-long members and saints of our congregation have died in the past two

months: Bill, Nancy, John, and Lew.

Many of us have sat and shed tears with their families. Dozens of you have

volunteered your time to assist with meals and hospitality. And many others of

you have taken the time to attend the funeral to sing and pray as a community.

So I have been reflecting lately on the question, “Who are funerals for?”

Some of you might say, “Funerals are for the one who has died. We are here to

honor and remember the one who has now left us.” Others of you might say,

“Funerals are for the living. We are here to draw comfort for ourselves and know

that our loved one is in a better place.” And some might say, “Funerals are for the

family. People need their space and privacy while grieving.”

These responses are all true in certain respects. But I would say that, by themselves, they offer only a partial

response. In truth, funerals are for everyone: for the dead, for the living, for the family, and for the entire

community.

Death comes to all of us. The death of a brother or sister in Christ matters a great deal. No matter how

closely or distantly related through family or friendship, the death of one of God’s own reaches to the deepest

depths of our faith.

Consider this definition of a funeral that we begin every funeral liturgy with:

Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

We are gathered to worship,

to proclaim Christ crucified and risen,

to remember before God our sister/brother,

to give thanks for her/his life,

to commend her/him to our merciful redeemer,

and to comfort one another in our grief.

The first three lines set the tone. We gather in the name of the one who wept for his friend Lazarus. We

gather to worship the God who went to the cross, a place of death, for us. We proclaim that Christ is alive now

in our midst. (The remaining four lines point to the responses already given above: we’re here to remember, to

give thanks to accompany them to their final resting place, and to draw strength from one another.)

Now you might be thinking, “Well, don’t we do that every Sunday when we gather for Holy Communion?”

The answer, of course, is “Yes!” When someone close to us dies, we do what Christians have been called to do

since the earliest Christians met together. Whether on Sunday morning or at the time of death, we gather to hear

God’s word and to share in God’s meal.

Continued on Page 12

From the Pastor’s Desk


A funeral gathering, then, is appropriately called “Holy Communion” just as our Sunday morning gatherings

are called. The occasion is the death of one of God’s own, but the main event is God and our faith. We gather to

hear, once again, “the old, old story” of God saving his people from death and keeping them for eternal life.

A funeral is for all of us because we all need God when someone dies. Their death is our death, and their life

with God is our life.

A final note: So often at times of death we do not know what to say. That’s OK, because most important by

far is just showing up and offering a hand or a hug. Just as we are simply present to one another around the

communion table, so we can simply be present in times of grief.

See you in church,

Pastor Nathan

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